The history of Xitsonga Language 

• https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/tsonga
• Early History of Tsonga communities in South East Africa
  
  Archaeological evidence points to a continuous occupation of the area between St Lucia Bay from at least the thirteen century, probably at 1250. Early Portuguese documents of shipwreck sailors indicate that Tsonga Communities were already based between Maputo and Saint Lucia Bay by 1550. Writings of Perestrello (Santa. Bento-1554), Diogo de Couto (Santa Thome-1589), Lavanha (Santa Alberto-1593) record presence of Ronga chiefdoms between Saint Lucia Bay and the Maputo region in sixteen centuries. They recorded the names of chiefdoms like Ngomane, Nyaka, Mpfumo, Lebombo (Livombo), Manyisa and Tembe. These names have survived till today. What is significant is that Portuguese documents of the 16th century point to the fact that Tsonga (Ronga) chiefdoms were larger their Nguni counterparts. Actually, Nyaka and Tembe developed powerful kingdoms, the first extending from Delagoa Bay in the north to as far as Saint Lucia Bay in the south and the latter covering the Delagoa Bay region and all land as far as the Lebombo (Livombo) mountains.
  By the eighteen century, the Maxabane (Mashabane) (which broke away from the Nyaka chiefdom), Matsolo and Mabota chiefdoms were added to the chiefdoms observed by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century.
  
  Historically, Tsonga communities stretched from St Lucia Bay in Northern KwaZulu Natal up to the upper Save river in Mozambique, covering parts of Swaziland, Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park and South Eastern Zimbabwe.
  
  In the 1720s , Portuguese and Dutch identified the Tsonga as linguistically and culturally belonging to one group despite the fact that they belonged to different chiefdoms. This was motivated by the fact the Ronga themselves identified themselves as one group with people who spoke the same language, regardless of the fact that they belonged to different chiefdoms. Dutch reports mention that there were visitors into the Delagoa Bay area from the interior (probably the Hlanganu) who were identified by the Ronga as speaking the same language as them and that members of the Hlengwe sub-group had the same scarifications as the Ronga. The Dutch stressed that the Ronga recognized the Tonga of Inhambane and the Chopi as separate from them.

Greetings and Courtesies

Good morning – Avuxeni

Good afternoon – Inhlikani/Indzengha

Good evening – Ripe rile/Imadyambu

Hello – Xewani/Avuxeni

Reply to hello – Ahee

How are you? – Kunjhani (one person)

                             Minjhani (more than one person)

Reply to how are you? – Ni kona/Ndzi kona/Ndzi kona ndza nkhesa

Asking for help

Asking for help – Ni kombela ku pfuniwa

Can you please help me? – Xana mi nga ni pfuna?

Emergencies

Emergency – Swilo swa xihatla

Danger - Khombo

Numbers

• – N’we
• – Mbirhi
• – Nharhu
• – Mune
• – Ntlhanu
• – Tsevu
• – Nkombo
• – Nhungu
• – Kaye
• – Khume

Days of the week

Sunday – Sonto

Monday – Musumbunuko

Tuesday – Ravumbiri

Wednesday – Ravunharhu

Thursday – Ravumune

Friday – Ravuntlhanu

Saturday – Mugivela

Months of the year

January – Sunguti

February – Nyenyenyana

March – Nyenyankulu

April – Dzivamusoko

May – Mudyaxihi

June – Khotavuxika

July – Mawuwani

August – Mhawuri

September – Ndzhati

October – Nhlangula

November – Hukuri

December – N’wendzamhala

Seasons of the year

Summer – Ximumu

Autumn – Xixikana

Winter – Xixika

Spring – Ximun’wana